Loose-leaf binder



Aug. 16, 1932- R. CONNOR ET AL 1,872,248

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. '24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lEOGE/E oo/v/va NELSON v5. WEAK 0,4140 12. 2E/VA/E,,

Aug; 16, 1932. CONNOR ET AL I 1,872,248

LOOSE LEAF BINDER 7 Filed Jan. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IZOGE/ii CON/V0 8 msLao/v 6, WELK, 0,4 V/D 2e. Zf/WVEB,

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 ROGER connon, NELSON s WELK AnnnAvin it; z'n'nnnn; or ATHENS, onro, Assrcrnons OFF-ICE- TO THE MCBEE BINDERCOMPANYOE ATHENS, OHIO LOOSE-LEAF .BIN'DYER 9 Application filed January 24, 1931. SeriaPNo. 511,070..

This invention relates to an improvement in binders and more particularly, toth'at type of binder employed. in connection with loose leaves having suitable perforations near one gnarginal edge thereof. 7

" An object of the invention is to'provide a binder, employing two separate binder members and covers,.together with bindmg v posts which are completelydetachable from m the binder covers.

Another object :is to provide ,one of; the

binder members with lockinggmechanismj adapted to engage the bindingjpos'ts at any v p I: arrangemengwhen des1red,the pair of binddesired point longitudinally thereof to hold the same in any desired "position of adjustment. V i

The binder, formingthe subject of this invention, is employed in connection, with the postlng stand, described 1n our pending application for Letters Patentfiled Decem- "ber 22, 1930, Serial No. 504,130. As s'et'forth in said application, it is'essential for .the

best operation of the posting stand that the.

binding posts be. entirely removed from the; zubinder coversduring the operation of post-J tom'wall of the binder member has an inward depression 11, therein toaccommodate 'ing'.

In the drawings, 7 Figure 1 is a partial plan view of the top binder cover, showing the top binder mem-' 30.1)81; Figure 2 is a vertical end view of the binder filled with loose leaves of paper; Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the bottom binder cover, showing the bottom binder 35 member Figure 2 Figure 5 1s a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 3; 40. Figure 2;

Figure Figure 1; and

nism in inoperative positions The top blnder cover land its complementary hollow binder member 2 and the bot- 5 tomcover 3 together with its complementary to hollow binder, member 'are constructedin Figure 4 is a section: on the line off Figure 6 1s a section on the' line 6 6of,

7 is a section on'the line 77 of* accordance with the disclosure of Patent 1,697,634, Robert J. Copeland, patented J anuary 1,. 1929. Our invention is concerned principally withthe post locking mechanisms contained within the hollow bindermembers 2 and 41. a v

1 The loose leaves of paper which are to be bound together and shown at 8 and are held between the binder covers 1 and 3 by the binding posts 5 and 6 together with the asso- 'ciated locking mechanisms.

The binding posts are integrally united by a post bar 7, riveted or otherwise securedthereto. By this rigidly attached posts, so common in prior constructions.

Referringto Figures 4 and 5, which are sectional views of the bottom binder member 4,it will be seen that there are four openings 9;9, 10, 10 extending through the parallel walls of said bindermember. These openings meet such a diameter as to permit free and easy entryof the'posts 5 and 6. The boter member and the post bar and serves to push "outthe posts 5*and 6 and the post bar 7"when theloclring mechanism is released.

. The locking mechanism consists of a fiat bar or bolt 13, provided with looking openings 14-,- 14:,' therein, through which the binder posts are inserted. The binder posts are provided with grooves 15, 15 whose diameters are sli ghtly' less than the diameters of the binding posts. The bar or bolt 18 is normally urged to operative or looking position by means of a spring 16 held in contact with the bar or bolt, by means of the projection 17,. The spring is also brought under compression by the end piece 18 which serves also to fill in the opening formed at theend of the tubular binder member. The bar or bolt 13 is'also provided with jupstruck tongues 19 which serve to keep said bar or bolt substantially in the same operating plane at-all times. The

=" This pusher bar engages the bar or bolt 13 and when the former is depressed by the operator, the bar or bolt is moved laterally against the compression of the spring 16,

thereby permitting the marginal edges of the openings 14 to be removed from the grooves 15 whereupon the leaf spring 12 will be released and the posts 5 and 6 will be flung slightly free of the binder member 4. When the posts are in locked position, the post bar 7 rests in the depression 11, thereby presenting a smooth surface on the back of the lower binder member. 7

The above described operation maintains only in so far as the lower binder member and the binding posts are concerned. The upper binder member 2, is also equipped with locking mechanism and this mechanism must first be releasedbefore the posts may be removed from the lower binder member locking mechanism. 7

Since the upper binder member is to be adjustable longitudinally of the posts to accommodate various binder capacities, it has been found necessary to change the locking mechanism somewhat. To this end, locking levers 24, 24, of the configuration shown in Figure 6 are provided. These locking levers are provided with two downwardly depending lugs 25, 25, fitting freely in openings 26, 26, provided in the lower wall of the binder -member. This arrangement constitutes a pivotal or hinge connection about which the levers 24 may pivot. These levers are provided with through openings 27, 27 which align themselves with the openings 28 extending through the walls of the binder member, whenever the levers are in inoperative or unlocked positions. The levers are urged to inoperative position by means of small springs 29, 29, secured to the levers in the manner shown and inserted between the upper surface of the levers and the inner face of the upper wall of the binder member 2.

The two levers :24 are urged to operative or looking position by a common means 30, comprising a flat bar or bolt and having thereon raised portions or cams. 31. Secured to the common means 30 is a depressible metal member 32, secured thereto by a rivet and carrying at its free end a button 33, supported upon a stud 34. This stud is slightly greater in length than the wall of the member 2Vis thick and at the point where the stud is secured to the metal member 32 contact is made between the member 32 and the wall due to the fact that the metal member is resilient enough to urge the stud upwardly. The button 33 is carried at the free end of the stud. This stud normally rests in the opening 35 which is larger in diameter than the stud 34 and merges into an elongated straight slot 36 which slot has a width substantially equal to the diameter of the stud but upon depressing the member 32 and urging the button 33 to the right, Figure 8, said stud travels in the slot 36, until it has reached the confining limits of said slot, whereupon in the slot 36, as is common in most constructions, mere dropping of the binder would be sulficient to disengage the locking mechanism. By providing the contact between the wall of the member 2 and the member 32, there is just enough contact to prevent accidental dislodgment of the locking mechanism. In this position the openings 27 are out of alinement with openings 28 and consequently the marginal edges of the openings 27 serve to bind or grip the posts 5 and 6 which have been inserted through openings 27 and '28. Thus it may be seen that the top binder cover and binder member may, in this manner, be adjusted at any point longitudinally of the binding posts 5 and6. The

gripping action is certain and the loose leaves are retained securely between the binder covers.

To remove the posts and covers so that the contents of the binder will be available for posting, as set forth in our pending application referred to above, it is only necessary to first unlock the mechanism shown in Figure 7, by moving the button to the left, thereby releasing the levers 24 and thereupon releasing the locking mechanism shown in Figure 5, by depressing the plunger 23. The posts may then be easily removed by hand and since they are united by the post bar 7, the posts come out as a unit.

We claim:

'1. In a binder, the combination of coverboards each provided with a hollow binder -member having openings from face to face members each provided internally with postlocking mechanism and provided with openings therethrough; binding posts passing through said openings and the holes in the leavesto be bound, the ends of the posts at one end being united by a bar, the other ends of the posts being pointed.

3. In a binder, in combination with a pair of binding posts; a hollow binder member having a plurality of holes therethrough adapted to receive and movable lengthwise of said posts; a locking mechanism carried by said binder member comprising a pair of levers each pivotally secured to the bottom wall and lying between the parallel top and bottom walls of saidhollow binder member, each of said levers having a hole therethrough normally alined with the corresponding holes in the hollow binder member adapted to reeeive the corresponding binding posts and a common means for operating each such lever upon its pivotal connection to cause the hole therethrough to be forced out of alinement with the holes in the hollow binder member and thus bind the binding post between such lever and the edges of the holes in said top and bottom walls of said hollow binder member and a spring for restoring each such lever to its inoperative position.

4:. In a binder, in combination with a pair of binding posts; a hollow binder member having a plurality of holes therethrough adapted to receive and movable lengthwise of said posts; a locking mechanism carried by said binder member comprising a pair of levers each pivotally secured to the bottom wall and lying between the parallel top and bottom Walls of said hollow binder member,

each of said levers having a hole there though normally alined with the corresponding holes in the hollow binder member adapted to receive the corresponding binding posts and a common means for operating each such lever upon its pivotal connection to cause the hole therethrough to be forced out of alinement with the holes in the hollow binder member and thus bind the binding post between such lever and the edges of the holes in said topa nd bottom walls of said hollow binder member, and a spring for restoring each such lever to its inoperative position, said common operating means comprising a member supported by a wall of said hollow binder member and having a plurality of cam portions therein adapted to engage said levers when said operating means is operated from outside the hollow binder member;

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

ROGER CONNOR, NELSON S. WELK, DAVID R. ZENNER. 

